NFL News: Mike Tomlin's Steelers address Russell Wilson's play-calling controversy and Aaron Rodgers' freedom at line of scrimmage

Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers continue preparing for the upcoming season, now working with Aaron Rodgers as the starting quarterback. One of the key issues for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will be the potential audibles at the line of scrimmage.

That aspect was highly controversial with Russell Wilson during the 2024 season. Multiple reports indicated that Smith disagreed with Wilson changing plays at the last moment, and that by the end of the season, the quarterback no longer had the freedom to call audibles.

In fact, former team quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was one of the figures who sparked that controversy during an interview with Pat McAfee. “I was told he (Arthur Smith) really pulled the reins back on Russ. In the two-minute drill, he wouldn’t let Russ call his own plays. You have to let a quarterback do that stuff.”

What happened with Russell Wilson and Steelers?

The relationship between Arthur Smith and Russell Wilson reportedly didn’t end on the best terms, precisely because of this play-calling situation. That may have been one of the reasons why the Steelers never considered extending his contract.

Now, during the team’s mandatory minicamp, Smith addressed that situation and whether, with a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers, who specializes in changing plays, it will once again become an issue.

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“I know that’s a hot button issue here. Every quarterback is different. Every offensive scheme is different. Audible is such a vague term. The operation never changed. So, whatever fantastical narrative was that we’re just calling plays to the line, I just know what we did and that didn’t. Our issue at the end of the year, it wasn’t good enough and, as a leader, you take accountability. That’s on you. But there’s multiple issues, and we have to be playing our best at the end of the year. That’s where you got to be accountable as a leader. So, we’ll have a different setup this year. Roster-wise. Obviously, new players like DK, Aaron, some of the other guys we brought in.”